When Ronald McDonald House Charities launched a traveling health clinic housed in a state-of-the-art recreational vehicle, Lisa Repaske went to work to find patients for the unit.

Repaske, who at the time was the operations officer for Ronald McDonald House, met with school and health department officials in underserved areas touting the benefits of the unit, which is staffed by pediatric doctors and nurses from Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The unit, which targets rural populations, accepts insurance, including Medicaid, and provides services at little or no cost.

While other mobile care units rely on a staffer from the partner hospital to oversee day-to-day operations, Repaske opted to fulfill that role, Ryan Wilkins, a Ronald McDonald House co-worker, wrote in nominating her for a Health Care Hero Award.

“She has truly set a new benchmark for Ronald McDonald Care Mobile programs worldwide, which will make a lasting impact on not only Central Ohio, but the world,” Wilkins wrote.

Repaske, who has since taken a job with Nationwide Children’s, said she was motivated by the possibilities offered by the Care Mobile unit, which has a pediatrician and nurse who travel with it.

“There are a lot of kids out there who don’t have insurance” or access to a pediatrician, she said.

Repaske worked with South-Western City Schools to find ways to bring the unit to the district. Within months, the Care Mobile was “embedded in the South-Western City School District’s culture,” wrote Janice Collette, student services director for the district.

Over a series of visits, “... Hundreds of students (at 20 or more schools) were treated and received immunizations and athletic physicals,” Collette wrote.

At the schools, the Care Mobile’s pediatrician treats sick children as well as doing check-ups and shots. Staff can identify cases of strep, diabetes and asthma. Appointments and walk-ins are available.

Repaske had similar success motivating county health officials. In Fayette County, she worked with the Memorial Hospital Foundation to bring the unit to the area’s Community Days program. She impressed the executive director of the foundation with her compassion and integrity.

“She helps us think out of the box so we can better accommodate the children’s needs,” wrote Debbie Boggs.

Repaske said the local owner-operators of McDonald’s restaurants helped her identify community needs and resources that could help partner with the unit.